Email information about faith-based events and what’s going on at your place of worship at least two weeks in advance to Features Editor Bruce Steele at bsteele@citizen-times.com and Faith Reporter Carole Terrell at cterrell@ citizen-times.com.

Operation Christmas Child welcomes spokesperson

HENDERSONVILLE – Alex Nsengimana, national spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child, will speak at 6:25 p.m. July 23 at First Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St.

Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest project of its kind. Nsengimana will share his testimony of receiving a shoe box gift as a child. He is a survivor of the genocide in Rwanda.

MONTREAT – Each Sunday morning through Aug. 3, distinguished preachers and teachers, liturgical artists and musicians will lead a 10:30 a.m. service in Anderson Auditorium at Montreat Conference Center.

The series continues Sunday with Rev. J. William Straughan, president of Montreat’s Development Foundation Board. His sermon, “Standing on the Promises,” is a call to the Montreat community and people of faith everywhere to see what God has yet in store for God’s church.

Following the service, a buffet will be available for purchase in the Assembly Inn’s Galax Dining Room from 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Child care is available for age 6 months through completed kindergarten at the Updike Child Care Center on Texas Road. To learn more, visit www.montreat.org or call 800-572-2257.

Alternative services offered

ASHEVILLE – The Community on Haywood will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sunday for supper, followed by an alternative worship service at 7 p.m., at West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road.

The Community meets the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

Parking and entrance is in the back of the church and across Virginia Avenue. To learn more, contact 258-0903 or Kent@westashepres.org.

5-week study of Jesus’ parables

HENDERSONVILLE – Grace Lutheran Church, at 1245 Sixth Ave. W., invites the community to participate in the following services and programs:

• “Parables: Stories for Life in God’s World” is a five-week study that will meet from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays starting July 15. The pastor-led study is an in-depth exploration of the parables of Jesus. To register visit GraceLutheranNC.com and click on the Parables of Jesus link. The sessions are free.

• 24 youth and seven adult guides will be on a mission trip at a Youthworks site in Indianapolis July 12-19. The group will be housed at St. John’s United Church of Christ and will participate in varied service projects at three Eastside Indianapolis community outreach centers and other locations.

MILLS RIVER – Mills River Presbyterian Church will sponsor a “Back of Your Closet” clothing drive July 15-Aug. 15 to benefit Interfaith Assistance Ministry of Hendersonville.

“Everyone has old clothes or shoes tucked deep in the back of their closet that they no longer want or need,” said pastor Randall Boggs. “Your unused and unwanted clothing items can mean a great deal of difference to people who are in need.”

Clothing and shoes for men, women and children will be collected at the church’s fellowship hall at 10 Presbyterian Church Road, off School House Road. To learn more, call 891-7101.

Enroll in spirit summer school

MILLS RIVER – Mills River Presbyterian Church will host a series of four one-hour informative Bible study classes focusing on language as part of its Summer School for Your Spirit program. Sessions are an hour, begin at 5:45 p.m. and are free; all adults are welcomed.

The remaining schedule includes:

• July 16: “From Beowulf to Virginia Wolfe.”

• Aug. 6: “How Languages Constantly Change.”

• Aug. 20: “The Language of Humor.”

Gene Scruggs, a retired professor with a Ph.D. in 17th-century French literature, will lead the sessions. The church is at 10 Presbyterian Church Road, off School House Road. To learn more, call 891-7101.

Church celebrates 126th birthday

ASHEVILLE – St. James AME Church will celebrate its 126-year church anniversary at 4 p.m. July 20 at the church, 44 Hildebrand St.

Featured vocalist will be evangelist Lessie Williams, who will be joined by other gospel groups. Rev. Brent La Prince Edwards is the church’s pastor. To learn more, call 253-5191.

The Laurens County Mass Choir, of Laurens, S.C., will be the special guest. To learn more, call J. Cornell Proctor, minister of music, at 285-0444. Elder Alfred Blount is the church’s pastor.

Bluegrass Bash anniversary

HENDERSONVILLE – Dwayne Durham, associate lay pastor at First Presbyterian Church, and his Appalachian Fire Band will headline the fifth anniversary of the church’s Bluegrass Bash at 7 p.m. July 20 at the church, 699 N. Grove St. Admission is free and there will be complimentary cookies, ice cream and birthday cake.

Durham and his band have been performing for more than eight years, almost weekly, from Asheville to Greenville and many places in between. To learn more, call 692-3211.

Bible study seeks members

HENDERSONVILLE – A Christian Men’s Breakfast Bible Study is open for new members. The ecumenical group meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Dixie Diner on U.S. 64 West in Laurel Park.

Every week, the four Scriptures from the weekly lectionary used in most Christian liturgical churches are discussed. Participants should bring their Bible of choice and no homework is required.

Participants buy their own breakfast. To learn more, call Bob Andersen at 697-0464.

“Word and image have been fused into a new sensual landscape of collages and slide shows,” organizers said in a statement. “Musical duets between poet and cellist Carol Pearce Bjorlie and bassist Leo Bjorlie will ornament the evening with jazz classics.”

This event is a fundraiser for the Calvary Episcopal food pantry ministry. Admission to the event is one or more jars of peanut butter. Find samples of Poemscapes online at www.poemscapes.wordpress.com.

Fourever His quartet in Weaverville

WEAVERVILLE – First Baptist Church will host a benefit concert 4 p.m. Aug. 10 featuring the Fourever His Gospel Quartet at the church, 63 N. Main St.